Feature list for GeoSurf version 2.0:

Registration/Security

• Users are now required to register with GeoSurf.
• Registration is a one-time process.
• Users are then required to login to GeoSurf each time they start it, using the login id and password created when they registered (password can be changed later).
• There is a "demo" account which allows users to try out the software but will not allow them to set any preferences or download any data.

User Preferences

• Registered users can save certain preferences to be used in future GeoSurf sessions. These include:
  
  • Basic user information (name, email address, password)
    
  • Metadata and geographic filters (for use in future sessions)
    
  • Vector download preferences (format, coordinate system, clip mode)
    
  • Raster download preferences (format, coordinate system)
    

More raster download formats

• Users can now download raster data in GeoTiff, PCI Raster (PIX), ArcInfo Band Interleaved Grid, ArcInfoASCII Grid, ENVI, and ERDAS format.
  
• Not all formats are available for all data types.
  

Improved download interface

• One-click download (if you have saved your preferences)
  

Improved raster processing

• More concurrent jobs
  

New, fully FGDC compliant, metadata database

• Uses SMMS software plus some custom Java code.
  

Metadata filter panel is now database driven

• The content of the drop down lists are drawn from the database.
  

Vector and Raster download panels are now database driven

• The content of the drop down lists are drawn from the database.
  
• Allows CAST to easily update available format and coordinate system options by changing entries in the database.
  

Eliminated the Perl scripts

• These previously handled the vector and raster processing and were a sore-thumb in terms of performance and maintenance.
  
• Advanced String handling in Java 1.4 allowed us to port the functionality into the Java Servlet code.
  

Enhancements to assist debugging of download processing.

• Temporary download directories are now named after the download id.
  
• Download processing logs are now stored directly in these directories.
  
• These directories are deleted when a job completes without error but will now be left behind whenever a download job has problems.
  

Added hooks for system level and user level download throttling

• Allows CAST to conrol the workload of our servers leading to improved overall performance. We'll be experimenting with the threshold values of these throttling parameters in order to fine-tune GeoStor's performance.
  

Built with Java 1.4

• By making use of the latest-and-greatest java release, we have improved both the efficiency of back-end data processing and our ability to quickly deploy fixes and updates.
  
• Will require the Java 1.4 plug-in
  
• HTML is updated to initiate auto-install of the new plug-in (from Internet Explorer)
  

Built with J2EE1.3.1

• By making use of the latest-and-greatest java release, we have improved both the efficiency of back-end data processing and our ability to quickly deploy fixes and updates.